Rory Parnell

Rory Parnell is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University and New England Law – Boston. Rory worked full-time, for the then Law Offices of Parnell & McKay, every year he was in law school, and has been working at Parnell & McKay and then Parnell, Michels & McKay since 2002. Rory has been a partner at the firm since 2017, and dedicates his practice primarily to civil litigation.

Rory has been admitted to the New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bar Associations since 2011, and is licensed to practice in the United States District Court of New Hampshire. Rory works primarily in the areas of Injury (including motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle collisions, slip and falls, dog bites, trip and falls, and other injuries), Workers Compensation, Real Estate Litigation, Landlord/Tenant, Disability, and General Litigation areas.

Awards and Recognition's:
2021 Forty Under 40 Honoree from the Union Leader
2020 Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award
2017 New Hampshire Bar Foundation -Robert Kirby Award
2014 Pro Bono Rising Star Award
L. Jonathan Ross Award Winner for 2024

General News
“Flying Snow Is No Accident: Jessica’s Law in New Hampshire”
ByRory Parnell January 23, 2026January 23, 2026
As snow is bearing down on most of the country and is coming to New Hampshire this weekend, it is important to remember laws associated with snow. One of them is called “Jessica’s Law”. Jessica’s Law has been the law of New Hampshire for over twenty (20) years now. It is a law that requires the clearing of ice and snow off the top of a vehicle prior to driving it. The basis of the law was a tragic accident that claimed the life of Jessica Smith in 1999. A piece of ice about nine (9) feet long flew off of a tractor trailer, smashing into a box truck that veered into Jessica’s vehicle causing her death. The accident in Peterborough is not long…
Read More “Flying Snow Is No Accident: Jessica’s Law in New Hampshire”
Collaborative Law | Family Law
REMEMBER TO PRACTICE 12 DAYS OF CO-PARENTING CALM
ByRory Parnell December 22, 2025December 22, 2025
I came across a wonderful blog called “12 Days of Co-Parenting Calm” written by Deb Gilman and posted on the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals website. You can find that blog here: 12 Days of Co-Parenting Calm. As I read this blog, I am reminded that the holidays are supposed to be fun and joyful for children! When parents are going through a divorce/separation or are already divorced, it can be difficult to remember this important fact. Adding stress or chaos to your children’s lives by engaging in conflict with their other parent removes the fun and joy the children should be experiencing over the holidays. As you go through the holidays this year, please try to remember the importance of calm. Your children will benefit…
Read More REMEMBER TO PRACTICE 12 DAYS OF CO-PARENTING CALM
Family Law
PARENT CLAIMS HE DOESN’T OWE BACK CHILD SUPPORT WITHOUT A CONTEMPT FINDING: NH SUPREME COURT SAYS HE’S WRONG
ByRory Parnell November 14, 2025November 14, 2025
The NH Supreme Court recently had the opportunity to answer the question of whether a parent can be found to owe back child support when they are not found in contempt in a case called In the Matter of Curtis, 2025-0007. Contempt is often found when a party to a case has not complied with a Court order. Failure to pay child support under a court order often can lead to a finding that a parent is in contempt of that order. In the Curtis case, the parties are the parents of four minor children. The mother registered a child support order issued by another state in New Hampshire and although the case is not clear on this, appears to have filed to modify or…
Read More PARENT CLAIMS HE DOESN’T OWE BACK CHILD SUPPORT WITHOUT A CONTEMPT FINDING: NH SUPREME COURT SAYS HE’S WRONG
Collaborative Law
Are All Conversations With a Lawyer Privileged? Exceptions To The Attorney/Client Privilege
ByRory Parnell November 10, 2025November 10, 2025
We often hear about how communications between attorneys and their clients are privileged, meaning that they are confidential. Therefore, third parties cannot compel either the attorney or the client to disclose the contents of their communications with each other. An aspect of this privilege that is not often discussed is that there are exceptions to the privilege in certain, limited situations. For instance, communications between a client and a lawyer are no longer privileged if there is a third party involved in the communication. If you bring a friend to a meeting with your lawyer, the contents of that meeting are no longer privileged because the presence of the third party waives the attorney-client privilege. The NH Supreme Court recently issued an order on a…
Read More Are All Conversations With a Lawyer Privileged? Exceptions To The Attorney/Client Privilege
Collaborative Law | General News
NH SUPREME COURT EXTENDS DEATH BENEFITS TO WIDOW OF WORKER
ByRory Parnell October 31, 2025October 31, 2025
The New Hampshire (NH) Supreme Court recently addressed the tragic situation of a woman who lost her husband to cancer from his work at a firefighter. Her husband was employed as a firefighter for nearly 20 years. He began seeking treatment for health issues in early 2019 and was eventually diagnosed with bile duct cancer. Husband submitted a report of injury to the Department of Labor. Husband’s request for Workers’ Compensation was denied by the employer. Husband did not pursue the claim any further and died in January 2020. Wife applied for death benefits in April 2020, four months after Husband’s death. She was initially denied benefits and successfully appealed the order. Wife then requested Workers’ Compensation death benefits in January 2023. The employer and…
Read More NH SUPREME COURT EXTENDS DEATH BENEFITS TO WIDOW OF WORKER
General News
NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT RULES SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS ARE TIME BARRED FROM PURSUING THEIR CLAIMS
ByRory Parnell October 17, 2025October 17, 2025
The New Hampshire state legislature passed a law removing the statute of limitations as a defense for civil actions involving sexual assault and related offenses in 2020. The New Hampshire Supreme Court was recently asked to apply this law to revive a claim for sexual assault which was not filed prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations in place at the time. The Court determined that applying the 2020 law retroactively and using it to revive a claim for sexual assault that had expired prior to the 2020 law taking effect would violate Part I, Article 23 of the New Hampshire Constitution. For this reason, the Court declined to apply the statute to the expired claim and dismissed the case. The plaintiff filed…
Read More NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT RULES SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS ARE TIME BARRED FROM PURSUING THEIR CLAIMS
Personal Injury Law
New Hampshire Product Liability Law: Design Defects, Warnings & Legal Time Limits
ByRory Parnell September 12, 2025September 15, 2025
Product liability refers to the legal responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and others in the supply chain for injuries or damages caused by a product. In New Hampshire, as in many states, there are statutes and case law that shape how product liability claims work. This blog explains the framework, important concepts, time limits, defenses, and recent developments in NH product liability law. What Is a Product Liability Action? Under New Hampshire law (RSA Chapter 507‑D, “Product Liability Actions”), a product liability action is broadly defined. It includes any lawsuit for injury, death, property damage, or other harm that arises from: Types of Defects Claims generally fall into a few categories of defect: Time Limits (Statute of Limitations) One of the critical issues in product liability…
Read More New Hampshire Product Liability Law: Design Defects, Warnings & Legal Time Limits
Workers Compensation Law
Stuck in Limbo: How the workers’ compensation pre-authorization process makes injured workers feel stuck in the sand
ByRory Parnell August 22, 2025September 15, 2025
Everyone wants to be paid. As a lawyer, I do understand that. However, at the intersection of wanting to be paid, and wanting to get necessary medical care is a process in workers’ compensation cases call the pre-approval or pre-authorization process. This is when a medical provider asks the workers’ compensation insurer to pre-approve or authorize a specific type of medical treatment like surgery, therapy, injections or other treatment. The provider does this so they can guarantee they receive payment, as they express concern that they could provide the care and be left holding the bill. Conversely, the injured worker just wants to get the necessary medical care that gets them on the path to recovery and return to work. New Hampshire manages this conflict…
Read More Stuck in Limbo: How the workers’ compensation pre-authorization process makes injured workers feel stuck in the sand
Collaborative Law
Before ‘I Do’: What Happens to Premarital Pension Contributions in Divorce?
ByRory Parnell July 18, 2025August 15, 2025
In divorce, the Court is required to divide the parties’ marital property equitably. The law defines marital property as all property from any source whether titled to one party individually or to the parties jointly, no matter where the asset came from. RSA 458:16-a, I. For many years, the law with regard to pension plans was applied differently than the law with regard to other assets, and even other retirement plans. This difference was based on the Hodgins case, decided by the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1985. Hodgins v. Hodgins, 126 N.H. 711 (1985). Before the Hodgins case, Courts had struggled with dividing pension plans because they are difficult to value. Generally, the retiree’s benefit from a pension plan is based on a formula…
Read More Before ‘I Do’: What Happens to Premarital Pension Contributions in Divorce?
General Litigation
Explosive Consequences: How NH and MA differ on liability for Firework injuries
ByRory Parnell July 10, 2025August 15, 2025
As summer continues, many of us eagerly anticipate fireworks displays. But when mishaps occur, the legal question arises – who’s responsible? New Hampshire and Massachusetts adopt vastly different legal frameworks regarding firework-related injuries. Understanding these distinctions is pivotal for consumers, event organizers, and legal practitioners. At PMM law, we make it our business to know these rules and how they affect our clients. New Hampshire: Regulated Use with Civil & Liability Protections 1. Legal Use of Fireworks In New Hampshire, consumer (Class C) fireworks are legal for those aged 21+ and can be purchased from licensed retailers. Anyone using fireworks must follow both state and local ordinances. Those ordinances can be easily found at the NH fire marshal’s website. Violations of licensing rules may result in…
Read More Explosive Consequences: How NH and MA differ on liability for Firework injuries